Nissan - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Fobulous · 03-07-2006, 08:07 PM

hello fellow posters!

I haven't posted in quite some time now... not because I have stopped coming to the site, but just because I would rather read posts than post something useless...

However, now I need your help.

I am looking into buying a new car within the next two months. I have my mind set on a Nissan Xterra but have heard mixed reviews about Nissan as a whole.

Has anyone had any recent experience with a nissan? How do they run? Any significant problems? Positives? Negatives?

If you could help me out that would be great!

F.

habernac · 03-07-2006, 08:29 PM

I have an X trail that I like very much. Only a 4 cyclinder, but it's comfortable, has plenty of power on the highway and decent gas mileage. My dad has a 95 Maxima that's bulletproof. My ex owned one of the small Nissan pickups, treated it like crap and it ran like a champ. All good stories from me on Nissan products.

photon · 03-07-2006, 09:53 PM

Very happy with our Nissan Murano. No problems with it at all.

Fobulous · 03-07-2006, 09:56 PM

That sounds great!

My family used to have a nissan back in the day... a 1990 Nissan Sentra. It did us well until I got into an accident my first year as a driver. Now 7 years later I can finally afford to buy myself a new Nissan and I hope it doesn't have the same fate.

Have any of you heard any news/info on the Xterra? I haven't test driven it yet but plan to very soon. I am also looking into the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and Nissan Pathfinder.

Lanny_MacDonald · 03-07-2006, 09:57 PM

I have a Murano and a Z. My family has pretty well the rest of the product line (Maxima, Altima, Sentra, Pathfinder, Xterra) and all have been great. I'd recommend any of the vehicles.

Lanny_MacDonald · 03-07-2006, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fobulous

Have any of you heard any news/info on the Xterra? I haven't test driven it yet but plan to very soon. I am also looking into the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and Nissan Pathfinder.

Completely different vehicles. The Pilot, Highlander and Pathfinder are all "cars" while the Xterra is a "truck". The Xterra is what it is and will not be as luxurious or smooth as the other vehicles, but it will stand up a lot better should you take it off road. You have to decide what you want in a vehicle and make your decision based on needs and wants.

Lanny_MacDonald · 03-08-2006, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

I don't think there will be much off roadin.

I really like the pilot for some reason, bizarre looking vehicle but looks cool.

Pilot would be last on my list. When the Murano first came out I did a "Ride and Drive" event and drove the Highlander, Pilot and Murano head-to-head. The Murano was outstanding in every regard. The CVT transmission gave the Murano a little sluggish feel, but the times it generated in te road and cones course were all better than the other two products. The Highlander was second IMO and was just blah. Everything about it was just plain. The Pilot scared me. In the cones it generated a ton of body roll and appeared to be top heavy. In the road course it was not good at handling quick movements at any speed. It was also the slowest of the three. That was too bad because I was really hoping the Honda would kick ass. It didn't and I've been less and less impressed with Honda (I've owned 11 Hondas) since. Nissan really impressed me that day, and have come out with a great product line. So far, so good with the Datsuns!

Bill Bumface · 03-08-2006, 10:56 AM

Xterras: The first generation was BAD. Lots of problems with those. The newer generation is supposed to be quite good.

Murano: I've driven one of these quite a bit as my dad has one and I steal it whenever I need to move something. I love the way it drives for an SUV, the handling is surprising for a big lug. The CVT is just plain freaky at first. When you see the tach staying still and the speedo going up its quite interesting. No transmission problems for you Lanny? Very big problems with the CVT's and my dad had to have his engine pulled and the transmission replaced before it was a year old. Apparently this is quite common. He's been good since on the new transmission though.

Sylvanfan · 03-08-2006, 11:03 AM

I had a first generation X-Terra and wasn't exactly impressed with it. But most of my bad experience had to do with the dealership and how they operated. They've made a few changes to the X-Terra since than you really can't compare the one I had to whats there now. But it was an okay highway vehichle but just had adequate power and got terrible fuel mileage for the power it had. Off road it would have been better had the 4 wheel drive worked properly. I had to take it to a different dealership to find out that the front hubs weren't locking and thats why it had crappy traction.

Lanny_MacDonald · 03-08-2006, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Xterras: The first generation was BAD. Lots of problems with those. The newer generation is supposed to be quite good.

Murano: I've driven one of these quite a bit as my dad has one and I steal it whenever I need to move something. I love the way it drives for an SUV, the handling is surprising for a big lug. The CVT is just plain freaky at first. When you see the tach staying still and the speedo going up its quite interesting. No transmission problems for you Lanny? Very big problems with the CVT's and my dad had to have his engine pulled and the transmission replaced before it was a year old. Apparently this is quite common. He's been good since on the new transmission though.

No problems yet. CVT technology has been around for decades and its pretty good. I know the first year Muranos had problems, but from what I understand the issues have been fixed. We've got a late 2005 and it has been great. Very comfortable, lots of giddy up (still screws with your mind without the shifting) and great gas mileage (22 mpg city!!!).

Fobulous · 03-08-2006, 11:35 AM

I still haven't test driven the Xterra yet... I just have done my research on the net first. It seems like the new Xterras are proving to be worth the price tag that comes with it..

I am planning to get out to a dealership within the next two weeks to test drive one of them.

albertGQ · 03-08-2006, 12:46 PM

My realistic dream car is a Nissan Z350. Now those are sweet cars

Bill Bumface · 03-08-2006, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald

No problems yet. CVT technology has been around for decades and its pretty good. I know the first year Muranos had problems, but from what I understand the issues have been fixed. We've got a late 2005 and it has been great. Very comfortable, lots of giddy up (still screws with your mind without the shifting) and great gas mileage (22 mpg city!!!).

Yup, thats the exact same year my dad has. CVT's are good, but these ones deffinately had some quirks. They great part is if they are going to die its most likely going to happen under warranty and the replacements have all the major issues ironed out. It sucked that he had to get towed and was without his vehicle for a week, but it wouldn't have been as bad if the dealership weren't such jackasses (Stadium Nissan=bad).

Pretty crazy that you have the same engine in your SUV and your roadster... they sure feel different from each other, but they both have that distinctive exhaust note that I hear in ever 3.5 powered Nissan.

TheCommodoreAfro · 03-09-2006, 08:00 AM

Muranos are nice. If I was to buy a SUV (don't need one living in Tokyo, though) that would be my target.

Since Ghosn took over the company a few years back, they've really cleaned up their act, and are producing nice cars. In Japan, they are beginning to even encroach on Toyota and Honda in terms of quality, something no other car maker has been able to do thus far.

Fobulous · 03-09-2006, 08:03 PM

Well I just test drove the Nissan Xterra tonight.

It was absolutely amazing. Everything I expected plus more.

The power on that thing is incredible and the handling is suprisingly good.

I hope to be driving one them by the end of April!

Indi · 03-09-2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fobulous

Well I just test drove the Nissan Xterra tonight.

It was absolutely amazing. Everything I expected plus more.

The power on that thing is incredible and the handling is suprisingly good.

I hope to be driving one them by the end of April!

I have a new style Xterra...hands down one of the better vehicles I have ever had....way more power than the older models, full airbag system, the stereo rocks (get the rockford fosgate!), pretty decent fuel mileage.....I hardly get to drive it anymore cause the wife is always sneaking it out on me. The Xterra was rated most improved and best SUV of the year by 2 different magazines. The new 4 litre powerplant (same as the pathfinder) is an excellent mill, lots of power, good torque...mated with the 5 spd auto it is a dream to drive. ...When are you looking at getting one again? Talk to the fleet manager, tell him you belong to the social club at (name a big oil company) and that you were told that Nissan will sell you one at fleet pricing....saved me about $3000.00 off of sticker...which is pretty good for an import as they usually will not move...also...walk after the first offer....they will knock off the doc and data fee $500-750 to get you in the seat.

James

Fobulous · 03-10-2006, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indi

I have a new style Xterra...hands down one of the better vehicles I have ever had....way more power than the older models, full airbag system, the stereo rocks (get the rockford fosgate!), pretty decent fuel mileage.....I hardly get to drive it anymore cause the wife is always sneaking it out on me. The Xterra was rated most improved and best SUV of the year by 2 different magazines. The new 4 litre powerplant (same as the pathfinder) is an excellent mill, lots of power, good torque...mated with the 5 spd auto it is a dream to drive. ...When are you looking at getting one again? Talk to the fleet manager, tell him you belong to the social club at (name a big oil company) and that you were told that Nissan will sell you one at fleet pricing....saved me about $3000.00 off of sticker...which is pretty good for an import as they usually will not move...also...walk after the first offer....they will knock off the doc and data fee $500-750 to get you in the seat.

James

That is awesome. Thanks James!

I am probably going to purchase it before May.

I can't wait!

Bobblehead · 03-10-2006, 10:29 AM

Just an FYI, the Finance Minister was giving a speech yesterday and said the reduction in the GST is going to be in the budget to be brought down shortly. That can save you a fair bit of coin on a big budget item, so you may want to hold off and see how the the reduction is implimented. (If I had to guess, I would think it would be immediate, or else who will buy anything other than neccesities until the reduction? It could kill big ticket sales for months!)

Lanny_MacDonald · 03-10-2006, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Pretty crazy that you have the same engine in your SUV and your roadster... they sure feel different from each other, but they both have that distinctive exhaust note that I hear in ever 3.5 powered Nissan.

Tell me about it. Its so strange to think its the same power plant, yet they have such different performance characteristics. I guess the tweaking and tuning they do says a lot. I like the exhaust note on the Z more than the Murano. A little deeper, a lot more throaty. Very sexy! I just have to remember, its okay to love your car, just don't love your car!

Indi · 03-10-2006, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald

Tell me about it. Its so strange to think its the same power plant, yet they have such different performance characteristics. I guess the tweaking and tuning they do says a lot. I like the exhaust note on the Z more than the Murano. A little deeper, a lot more throaty. Very sexy! I just have to remember, its okay to love your car, just don't love your car!

The new 4 litre in the xterra's and the pathfinders are a stroked version of the 3.5L 350Z motor.....it is turning out to be one of the most versatile and dependable engines that nissan has ever produced.